US and European governments have been putting pressure on Israel to delay its ground invasion of Gaza to buy time for secret talks underway via Qatar to win the release of hostages held by Hamas, according to people familiar with the efforts.

The negotiations with Hamas, designated as terrorists by the US and EU, are delicate and may fail, said the people, who asked for anonymity to discuss matters that aren’t public. But they said there are signs the group might agree to let at least some of the civilians its fighters captured in the deadly Oct. 7 raid go without demanding Israel release any prisoners in return.